Today: [Proverbs 20] Forgive, Release and Bless – the Path out of Your Personal Prison. In chapter 20 of Proverbs we are exhorted to seek out godly counsel that brings us to a place of personal breakthrough. When we involve ourselves in matters that do not concern us or are beyond our own wisdom we often find ourselves wounded and bound by offense. Learn to forgive, release and bless in order to free yourself from your own personal prison of regret.
[Pro 20:1-30 KJV] 1 Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. 2 The fear of a king [is] as the roaring of a lion: [whoso] provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own soul. 3 [It is] an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. 4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; [therefore] shall he beg in harvest, and [have] nothing. 5 Counsel in the heart of man [is like] deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. 6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? 7 The just [man] walketh in his integrity: his children [are] blessed after him. 8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes. 9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? 10 Divers weights, [and] divers measures, both of them [are] alike abomination to the LORD.
Verse 3 of this chapter exhorts us to cease from strife. In another verse we are told that he who meddles with business not belonging to him takes a strange dog by the ears. In our modern culture we are led to believe that “the people” have a right to know and there is nothing that isn’t our business. That is not the teaching of scripture. David said that he would not exercise himself in matters too great for him. Choose in your own life not to exalt yourself into lofty opinions about things you may not have full knowledge of. Listen to the voice of God. Respond as He directs. Let the rest go. The person who “will be meddling” is a fool.
Verse 5 tells us that counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water but a man of understanding will draw it out. This is an important lesson about godly counsel. Those who are most qualified to counsel you are least likely to offer the counsel that you need. A wise counselor is too busy seeking first the kingdom to meddle in your life’s business. Learn to mark the person who comes to you with answers to questions that you haven’t asked. This is what I mean when I say “limit your counselors”. The counsel you receive is only a valuable as the quality of the character who offers it to you. Ask yourself “would I be blessed to have my own version of this person’s walk with God?” If not then you cannot regard the counsel of this person no matter how much you may regard them. Go out in your life and find someone walking in a heavier anointing than you, under a greater measure of the favor of God, experiencing a level of breakthrough and blessing that is beyond what you are experiencing. Then whatever is necessary get in front of that person and seek their counsel. A counselor can only give you what they themselves are in possession of. A true counselor does not regard the gifts of God as some state secret that they are unwilling to share. Regardless of how a leader may portray themselves, if they are not accessible on some level there is a deep insecurity in them that you would be wise to make note of and separate yourself from. The very nature of the spirit of counsel is availability and accessibility – and it doesn’t come cheap. Be prepared to sacrifice your time and your resources to be in that person’s life – for you will surely benefit.
11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work [be] pure, and whether [it be] right. 12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. 13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread. 14 [It is] naught, [it is] naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. 15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge [are] a precious jewel. 16 Take his garment that is surety [for] a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. 17 Bread of deceit [is] sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. 18 [Every] purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war. 19 He that goeth about [as] a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. 20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
Verse 12 tells us that a hearing ear and a seeing eye are a gift from God. Learn to in your prayer life to command your eyes to see and your ears to hear. A seeing eye and a hearing ear will put you over in life and give you victory over every obstacle and impediment of the enemy. The key is that we are not preoccupied with what the enemy is doing – we want to see what God is doing. Remember that you are where your attention takes you. If you are looking for the demonic under every lampshade then demons and the demonic will be attracted to you and make their way into your life and your circumstance. If you are looking for the kingdom of God to come then you will see the fountains of the deep open up within you and the heavens opened to bring fresh rain of God’s spirit and new favor and benefit from God’s hand each and every day.
21 An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed. 22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee. 23 Divers weights [are] an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance [is] not good. 24 Man’s goings [are] of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? 25 [It is] a snare to the man [who] devoureth [that which is] holy, and after vows to make enquiry. 26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them. 27 The spirit of man [is] the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly. 28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy. 29 The glory of young men [is] their strength: and the beauty of old men [is] the gray head. 30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so [do] stripes the inward parts of the belly.
Verse 22 encourages us not to harbor ill will or seek to take vengeance against those who mistreat us. Take the energies that you have wasted on offence and unforgiveness and invest them instead in waiting upon the Lord and making your heart prepared for what God is about to do next in your life. Let your response to offense and wounding always be to forgive, release and bless. Forgive, release and bless are the first 3 steps out of your personal prison house of resentment and pain. Remember the words of Jesus:
[Mat 5:23-26 KJV] 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
When you blame someone you make them god in the situation. When you blame someone either past or present you have bound yourself in a prison of your own making and you will not come out till you pay the uttermost farthing. How many times do men and women stew in past offenses that others involved no longer even have any reckoning of? Refuse to be bound by the past. Forgive. Release. Move on. Seek first the kingdom. You cannot have what God has next for you in the kingdom until you relinquish the wounds and offenses of things gone by. You cannot afford to live in regret, wounding or resentment. Let it go. Walk free and experience all that God has for you that is waiting the very moment you choose to forgive.